Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Why I Work So Hard

Whether you are new to my blog or you are a follower, I thank you for reading and following my journey.

I originally started this to let anyone out there know they were not alone and they did not have to be a victim.  I have slacked on that, not because I have not wanted to help, more-so because I became a mother of 2 wonderful boys, one on the spectrum and still adjusting to autism and the life of being a single mom.  I know I will venture back to my past to help those in similar situations.  However, currently for my family, I need to focus on the now and the future.

I have a lot of support via email and Facebook as a single mom.  Personally and physically...not so much, as I am sure many of you experience.  I live out of state from the majority of my family, my ex left to our homes state and does not help out with our boys financially or with any of our son's services.  Yet he wants to stay in their lives via Skype.  It is what it is and I will write more on that journey I am sure.  But like many of you I struggle with finances and making ends meet.  I have asked for help but I hate asking for help.  I have always been a helper and I am sure because of that it is why it is that much harder to ask,

So, instead of asking (unless I absolutely have to), I do what I can.  I work full time at an amazing job which come July will be my 10 year anniversary.  I look for any jobs I possibly can do for odesk, I look at other work from home part time job options.  With it just being myself and my two boys, having a part time job away from home is next to impossible.  I sell things I no longer need at all as well as donate.  I am an extreme couponer in which I have taught many on how to save money.  Now, I am an It Works Rep.  I am confident in their product which is why I chose to be a distributor.

I do all I can for my boys.  I taking any classes I can to be more educated about Autism for my son and others affected.  I try to help other families learning.  I volunteer with the Autism Society of Colorado.  There is not much of a free moment in my life, bit I would not change a thing.

I know it will all work out.  I know I will always find a way to provide for my boys.  For them I do all I can to make all our lives better!

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Walk With Autism

Autism Society of Colorado is hosting their 3rd Annual “Walk With Autism” event on June 14, 2015.  Please feel free to find more info or create a team here.

I had the pleasure of creating a team for my son Wyatt last year.  It was my first year getting involved and making a team.  All in all it was a huge success.  My goal was to raise $500, since it was my first year.  Our team raised just under $2300.00!!!!  Boy was I impressed.  The awesome thing about the money raised is ALL money STAYS in COLORADO to help families with services and such.
 




The event last year was so fun.  There were a few vendors, entertainment, Waldo on Stilts, Balloon Man Maker, Reptiles, Food and more.  It is a beautiful lake you walk around and there is a park for all the kiddos to play at.  Such a great Family and Friends event spreading awareness on autism, sharing stories and meeting some wonderful people you can now call friends.

Walk with autism in your life whether it be you personally, a family member or a friend, you know how lost and overwhelming you can feel.  I know for the longest time I felt so alone and unsure of what steps to take next and what was the priority for benefitting my son the best.  I have attended some classes and I plan to attend many more so I am as educated as I can be for my son and other’s affected.  Research and theories are constantly changing and we still do not have an official cause.  The numbers keep rising and we are currently at 1 in every 68 people are somewhere on the Spectrum.   It is more common in boys.

There is so much we can all do to help spread awareness, be more accepting and help teach those affected with Autism how to learn and succeed their way.

Please feel free to join and or donate to my son’s team WalkWith Wyatt.


Like Walk With Wyatt Community Page 








Monday, April 6, 2015

Easter Weekend 2015



What an amazing weekend.  The weather was perfect and there was so much fun family time.  On Saturday we went to Waterton Canyon.  All in all the mild hike was just over 8 miles.  I could not believe the boys did so well.  Of course when we had about a mile left, the complaining started….ha ha

We saw so many deer and big horned sheep.  The boys loved it.  They were hoping to see a snake and other animals, but these were just fine.  There were people fishing in the river and the boys would watch for a few.  Of course there were snack and potty breaks along the way.  We ate lunch at Lion’s Den and played in the grass for a little and then started our way back down.  At about the 2 mile mark from the car, we stopped at a lake area.  The younger boys stripped to their boxer briefs and played in the water, sand/dirt and with the rocks while the big boys skipped rocks. 
We were there from about 8:45am to 3pm.  The sun was shining and there was a cool breeze keeping the weather absolutely perfect the whole day.



The drive home, my boys fell asleep in the car.  That was very nice.  Then I showered them then me.  We grabbed a few things and then off to dye eggs with friends and family.  The boys had so much fun.  We had a wonderful BBQ dinner and just enjoyed our company.  A perfect Saturday in my opinion!



Easter the boys woke up, they found their eggs.  We had some oatmeal and just did normal weekend stuff for a bit.  The boys watched a show while I got some cleaning and laundry done. 


The boy’s dad arrived in town on Sunday as he had court on Monday.  So, I took the boys over to their Memaw’s house where they were able to spend a few hours with their father.  I was there the whole time as I was just not OK leaving them alone with him.  The boys have not seen their dad since he moved back to California at the end of February.  So, it was nice they got to see him even if he did not come out to visit his boys.


All in all, Easter Weekend 2015 goes down in the books as an awesome weekend.  We have not had those in a long time and I plan to do things like this much more often.

Sunday, April 5, 2015

Struggling



I am a single mother of 2 boys, one on the spectrum and I work full time.  My soon to be ex and I have 2 boys together.  Our marriage had been struggling for a while and I tried really hard to work things out and be a family.  There was a lot of anger issues with him and depression issues.  I suffer from depression as well, but I am dealing with it with my doctor and I am on low dose medication.  I feel there is nothing to be ashamed of.  

Our youngest son was diagnosed with Autism on March 17, 2012, just a little before he turned 2, I decided at that point to end my marriage so I could focus on our 2 boys and this new journey through Autism.  At the time, he was the stay at home dad and I told him we would need to discuss what needs to be done since he is home with the boys.  The next day, he brought a U-Haul and took all his stuff and whatever else he wanted and left.  I had 1 day to find a sitter and I was just hit with the reality of my son’s diagnosis and all we have ahead of us.  

Since March 18, 2012 my ex has maybe had the boys a total of 30 days added up, he has not helped out financially at all and he is not involved with any of our son’s services.  I paid for his cell phone for over 2 years, as I would not have the boys there with no way to contact them.  When he did take the boys, I would usually need to give him food or money so he could care for them.  Rather than tell him he cannot have the boys because he could not care for them, I helped make it happen.  

From then till the end of 2013 I had been doing amazing financially with getting everything paid up and not living exactly paycheck to paycheck.  All without any of my ex’s help.  Then at the end of 2013, there was the first of 3 family emergencies where I would have to get myself out to California (which is where the majority of my family live, none really in Colorado where the boys and I are).  My grandmother was going to have surgery in November 2013 where the doctors stressed they did not think her heart would handle the surgery.  Thankfully she is still with us, but she has been in and out of the hospital or nursing homes since, I made another trip for another scare.  She and I are very close and family is the only thing that makes living in Colorado hard.  However, Colorado is my home (at least for now). In June 1014  my dog had an emergency surgery on her ear.  Then I was participating in one of the many 5K's I do, I had fallen and tore my ligament in my thumb.  I had an emergency surgery if I wanted to use my thumb ever again properly.  With all that happening and no extra income coming in, I actually had my car repossessed (which I have gotten back) and I have been struggling so hard since about the middle of last year.  

I have asked my ex for help with them and he always saying he cannot.  Then at the end of February 2015, my ex decided to say goodbye to our boys and leave to go back to California.  So, now it is just us.  I have a great full time job that I have been with for 10 years.  I am trying to find work from home jobs at night and weekends so I can pay my bills.  I have done some work on oDesk, but that is not making a real difference yet.  I am selling all that I do not need.  Unfortunately, I am not in a position to get a part time job away from my home.

I am actively taking classes and finding out any information I can for my son on the spectrum.  I am helping with the Autism Society of Colorado again this year.  I always help out anyone I can whenever I can no matter if that means I go without.  I have taught myself to be an extreme couponer so I can afford to keep food on the table.  I have shared my couponing with many others to help them save.  However, no matter what I do, I just keep getting further and further behind and I am very scared I will be losing the home we rent and possibly more.  I am ashamed to have to ask for help and I am still trying every avenue I can to bring  money in.   And now I am an It Works Rep, again doing all I can to bring in more income for my family.  It Works Page  FaceBook It Works Page

Thank you so much for reading this.  Even if this does not touch your heart to donate to my go fund page, a prayer for my family and I that it will all work out would be always welcome.